MIAMI GARDENS, Florida. – The Green Bay defense intercepted Tua Tagovailoa three times in the fourth quarter to help the Packers come from behind to defeat the Miami Dolphins 26-20 and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Aaron Rodgers threw for 238 yards and a touchdown and had an interception for the Packers (7-8), who won their last three games since the season started, 4-8.
Miami (8-7) lost its fourth straight game and needs to win its last two to reach the postseason.
The Dolphins were six points behind and had a chance to take the lead in the last two minutes, but Tagovailoa threw his third interception in three possessions to end Miami’s comeback bid. He threw a pick about six minutes from time that set up a Packers field goal to make it a six-point game.
Packers kicker Mason Crosby scored a green field goal early in the fourth game after back-to-back turnovers from both offenses.
Undrafted Miami rookie Kader Kohou intercepted a pass from Rodgers meant for Allen Lazard, but the Dolphins returned it immediately when cornerback Jaire Alexander Tagovailoa intercepted in the next game.
The Miami defense kept the Packers six points down in the second half to keep the Dolphins at bay after squandering a 20-10 lead in the first half.
The Dolphins held Green Bay by two points in five trips to the red zone.
AJ Dillon led the Packers with 36 yards rushing on 11 carries, and Allen Lazard had 61 yards receiving on five catches.
Tyreek Hill had four catches for Miami to give him 113 for the season, setting a Dolphins single-season receiving record. Jaylen Waddle added five receptions for 143 yards.
But Miami spoiled those big reception days with sales.
Raheem Mostert fumbled in the first half and led to a Green Bay field goal. Tagovailoa’s three interceptions were the most he threw all season.
Miami engaged early in the running game, rushing 82 yards against Green Bay after a season-high 188 yards against Buffalo in Week 15.
The Dolphins rushed for 38 yards four times on their first drive to take a 3-0 lead, and Green Bay responded with a field goal to equalize after Keisean Nixon’s 93-yard kickoff return caught the Packers at the 9-yard line up.
Miami built a 20-13 halftime lead after an 84-yard TD by Waddle and a 1-yard TD run by Jeff Wilson.
Dillon’s 1-yard TD run on Green Bay’s first possession of the third quarter tied the game.
Tight end Marcedes Lewis also had a 1-yard TD catch in the first quarter.
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Rodgers’ interception in the fourth quarter was his 11th pick of the season, his highest total since he had 11 during Green Bay’s 2010 Super Bowl season. Rodgers threw a career-high 13 interceptions in 2008.
CHRISTMAS CHILL
The temperature at Hard Rock Stadium was 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) at kickoff, making it the second coldest home game in Dolphins history. The coldest game was played against Kansas City on Christmas Eve 1989 with 40 degrees weather. The Chiefs won that game 27-24.
HOLIDAY STORY
Tagovailoa’s 84-yard TD pass to Waddle was the longest offensive Christmas Day TD score in NFL history, according to NFL Research. It was the fourth-longest TD in Dolphins history and the longest since Dan Marion’s 85-yard TD pass to Mark Duper in 1986 against the Houston Oilers. It was also the longest TD catch of Waddle’s career.
INJURIES
Packers: DE Dean Lowry injured his calf in the second quarter. … Keisean Nixon left with a groin injury. … WR Christian Watson left with a hip injury.
Dolphins: LB Bradley Chubb (hand) left the team in the first quarter and later returned. … FB Alec Ingold injured his thumb.
NEXT
Packers: host Minnesota on Jan. 1.
Dolphins: Visit New England on January 1st.
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